Photos courtesy of Scandinavian Cultural Center
BRINGERS OF LIGHT. Young ladies dressed in white surround Sankta Lucia who wears a crown of light to lead PLU’s Sankta Lucia Fest along with “star boys” dressed in red. The event marks the beginning of Christmas on campus and among local Scandinavians who have celebrated Sankta Lucia in Tacoma for 57 years.
A local holiday tradition for the past 57 years will take place again at Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) Dec. 7 – the Sankta Lucia Fest in honor of Saint Lucia's Day (also known as St. Lucy).
Called the "festival of light," St. Lucia's Day is observed primarily in Nordic countries, and in various Christian denominations, on her feast day, Dec. 13, amid the shortest and darkest days of winter. Together with Advent, it marks the beginning of the Christmas season. In the Tacoma area, the joyful candlelit observance heralds in the holidays at PLU.
"We have for over 50 years celebrated the Swedish tradition," said Susan Young, director of the Scandinavian Cultural Center at PLU, which sponsors the event. Young explained that while the festival is not a religious event, "(Sankta Lucia) did bring light into the world like Jesus did, so there's that correlation."
Of Latin origin, the word "Lucia" means "light," thus the celebration is said to illuminate a darkened world with hope and serenity. In Sweden, the celebration can be traced back to the 1700s.
The tradition focuses on a young woman elected to play Sankta Lucia. She wears a long, white gown with a crown of five candles representing Lucia's five virtues of hope, mercy, purity, faith and love. She is followed by an entourage of other young ladies in white, called a "täg," who carry candles and sing gentle songs. Young boys also participate as "star boys" wearing red costumes and hats.
At PLU, 15 young women were chosen through a private interview by a selection committee to lead the Sankta Lucia fest. The one chosen to play Lucia receives a scholarship. On the night of the event, they and the star boys enter PLU's darkened Lagerquist Hall carrying candles and singing welcoming songs. Professional Swedish folk dancers in full costume, music and a candle lighting ceremony follow.
From there, Lucia and her täg lead a candlelit procession along a lighted path across campus to the Scandinavian Cultural Center for a big reception that includes dancing around the Christmas tree, refreshments and a visit from "Jultomten," the Swedish Santa Claus, with a bag full of treats for the children.
"It's quite an event," Young remarked. The next day, Lucia and her täg will visit Tacoma Lutheran Home Retirement Community and IKEA in Renton, which co-sponsors the Sankta Lucia Fest, to perform at 9:30 and 10:15 a.m. Then Dec. 15, the group will join the Scandinavian Women's Choir at the Saint Lucia's Day festival of light at Museum of Glass.
The legend of Sankta Lucia is a colorful one that has captured the imaginations of people worldwide for centuries. As one story goes, and there are numerous variations, Lucia lived in fourth century Rome. She pledged her life to God and church, but her mother hoped for her to marry a non-Christian. This was not in Lucia's plans, which angered her betrothed who turned her in to ruling authorities for being a Christian.
She was sentenced to burn at the stake, but when her prayers held the fires at bay, her tormentors put out her beautiful and powerful eyes with a sword. A pure light then emanated from where her eyes used to be. Outraged by her steadfast faith, her captors ran a sword through her throat and heart, killing her. The story of Lucia's martyrdom, and tales of her many kindnesses to the poor, spread throughout Europe ultimately leading to her canonization, date unknown.
"We think the tradition came by Vikings to Scandinavia," Young said.
The festival certainly fits in well at PLU as the university was founded in 1890 by a group of mostly Norwegian Lutherans from the Puget Sound region.
In the early 1970s, Scandinavians in the area wanted a presence on campus and over a 10-year period raised money to open the non-profit Scandinavian Cultural Center in 1989. The university offers a comprehensive program in Norwegian and Scandinavian studies and its library houses a rich collection of books focusing on the Scandinavian immigrant experience in America.
Tickets to PLU's Sankta Lucia Fest are $8 general admission, $5 for SCC members and students, and $3 for children 11 and under. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door. Call (253) 535-7411.
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